I can't stop drinking soda, what should I do?!
I can't stop drinking soda, what should I do?
Okay, so I never knew it could happen, but I'm addicted to soda and drink it ALL the time. I hate water and don't really like juices like apple and all. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I could stop drinking SO Much soda. I drink almost 4 liters of soda a day. :[
Answers:
Whatever route you take, remember that you *will* gain weight, and alot of it compared to "normal" soda if you replace 4l of regular soda with 4l of diet.
Don't know why, but the diet stuff primes the body to put on weight.
If you want a straight swap...tea - actual brewed tea, not the powered crap. Doesn't matter if it's hot or iced. Even though it has twice the caffeine as coffee, it does not have the impact that the caffeine in coffee does on the body.
Another reason to cut back/quit the soda habit, sugar water is a diuretic - you take in 4l of soda, you're voiding almost 4.25-4.5 litres or so through urination.
While it is possible to become addicted to sugar, an additiction to the caffeine (which *is* a mildly adictive borderline narcotic) is more likely.
As for other beverages - try other fruit juices. You might find one you like. Buy a single can of V8 and drink it - if you like it, drink it somewhat regularly, if it makes you sick/disgusted, avoid tomato juice...which is the prime constituent in V8. Since you don't like water - buy a couple packages of the Crystal Light singles and try them (1 pouch to 500ml of water). Can't vouch for their ingredient list, but it's likely somewhat better for you than soda.
Good luck!
(Incidentally, I know how you feel - my father used to drink almost 2l of Pepsi a day when I was young. He quit cold-turkey!)